Frictionless Retail Payment

Md. Altaf Hossain
Managing Director (Acting)
Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC. 

Tap Here to Add The Daily Star As A Trusted Source

Our priority is to increase merchant onboarding, encourage everyday QR transactions and support Bangladesh’s economic journey toward a cashless economy.

Bangla QR is a key milestone in Bangladesh’s transition to a cashless economy. Its interoperability simplifies digital payments for customers and small merchants, improving financial inclusion and transparency. Guided by Bangladesh Bank, continued industry collaboration will help build a secure, accessible, and efficient payment ecosystem.

The Daily Star (TDS): How are banks, MFS providers, and fintech companies are collaborating to ensure seamless, cross-platform transactions for the end consumer?

Md. Altaf Hossain (MAH): The success of Bangla QR depends on strong collaboration among banks, mobile financial service providers and fintech companies. By adopting a common payment standard and interoperable infrastructure, customers can make payments across different platforms without any complexity. This creates a more convenient experience for users while helping merchants accept payments from a wider customer base.

TDS: What strategies are being deployed to simplify the merchant onboarding process for street vendors and neighbourhood grocers, and how does adopting Bangla QR help formalise their businesses?

MAH: For Bangla QR formalisation and popularisation, merchant onboarding must be simple, quick and accessible. At Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC, our nationwide branch, sub-branch and agent banking network is providing street vendors, grocery stores, retailers and other merchants through a simple registration process, minimal documentation and dedicated support. Once onboarded, merchants can accept digital payments through onboarding.

TDS: What robust security standards and fraud-prevention mechanisms are integrated into the Bangla QR framework to protect users and build long-term consumer trust?

MAH: Bangla QR operates within a secure, regulated payment framework with strong authentication, encrypted transactions and continuous monitoring to detect suspicious activities. Banks also use multi-layered security controls, fraud monitoring and customer verification to safeguard transactions. Apart from technology, customer awareness is equally important, as informed users are the first line of defence against fraud. Together, these measures help build confidence and encourage wider adoption of digital payments.

TDS: How is your organisation aligning its digital product roadmap and corporate strategy to champion Bangla QR, and what specific milestones do you hope to achieve in support of this national agenda?

MAH: Bangla QR has already been integrated into our CellFin app, and we are expanding merchant acceptance through our network of around 400 branches, 276 sub-branches and nearly 2,800 agent banking outlets across the country. As of July 12, 2026, we had onboarded 103,465 Bangla QR merchants, including a record 7,037 merchants in a single day on 12 July 2026, reflecting the strong momentum behind this initiative.